Jammu : Under its Operation Sadbhavna (Goodwill) the Indian Army Tuesday launched a fortnight-long course on vehicle repair and gas welding for youth of the remote mountainous and militancy-affected area Sarh which will help the trainees earn a living for themselves.

"Ten youth selected from the remote Sarh area (180 km north of Jammu in Reasi district) have begun their training. All the selected youth are school dropouts and belong to very poor families. They would be taught the nuances of vehicle mechanics and the various repairing techniques. Beside this, they would also be taught about the techniques of gas welding," the defence ministry spokesman in Jammu, Col R.K. Palta, said.

Palta said that the army had assured the youth that the best possible training would be imparted to them. "And we have asked them to make optimum use of the same and earn a living for themselves so that their families can also benefit."

According to the spokesman, the Sarh area has been one of the worst affected by militancy. "The locals have suffered a lot at the hands of militants. Many youth of the area were coerced to take up militancy and those who refused were mercilessly murdered."

Palta said that in the given background, "this initiative of the army can help the local youth to start earning with dignity".